CeeDee Lamb isn’t interested in letting the Cowboys turn Sunday’s matchup with the 49ers into something bigger than it already is.
As Dallas prepares to host San Francisco, Lamb pushed back on the idea of treating the game like a personal grudge match.
“Can’t make it a personal situation. The rivalry is going to be the rivalry, regardless.
It’s 49ers-Cowboys. Yeah, they’ve had some success on us, but we have an opportunity to change that on Sunday,” said Lamb, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on X, formerly Twitter.
That caution comes at a time when the Cowboys are trying to steady themselves after a quiet trade deadline left plenty of fans frustrated. Dallas is also coming off a narrow road win over the Indianapolis Colts, a game that once again showed how uneven this team has been.
The Cowboys have struggled to put together complete performances this season. The offense and defense have rarely clicked at the same time, and last weekend’s win over the Colts required a late drive from Dak Prescott and company after Dallas had given away yet another double-digit lead.
San Francisco, by contrast, arrives in much better shape. The 49ers are the top seed in the NFC and just added wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Colts at the trade deadline, giving them another boost heading into Sunday.
The recent history between these teams only adds to the spotlight. The 49ers have knocked Dallas out of the playoffs in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and they’ve also picked up regular-season wins over the Cowboys along the way.
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 4:25 pm ET from Arlington.
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Cowboys Secondary Depth Is Suddenly Looking Like A Real Problem
The Cowboys defensive backfield has become one of the more unstable parts of the roster, and the ripple effects are showing up everywhere. Injuries have forced constant shuffling in the secondary, leaving Dallas to lean on less experienced players while first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker keeps trying to patch together a workable rotation.
Roster moves have only added to the sense that the room is being stretched thin. Dallas released cornerback Reddy Steward from the practice squad to make room for running back Kendre Miller after Tyler Goodsons injury, a reminder that the Cowboys are juggling needs on both sides of the ball while several key defensive backs have already missed multiple games. The result has been inconsistent coverage and a depth chart that looks a lot shakier than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Rookie Suddenly Faces Big Test With Defense Banged Up
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The timing matters with San Francisco next on the schedule, because Dallas needs bodies and production wherever it can find them. Barhams expanded role gives the Cowboys another young piece to lean on as the defense navigates injuries, and it also puts a spotlight on how quickly he can handle a heavier assignment when the snaps start coming his way. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Need Answers Fast On Joey Porter Jr's Latest Setback
Joey Porter Jr.s latest injury setback comes at a time when the Cowboys could use some stability on defense. Their pass coverage has been a problem, and Porter has already been part of the conversation around the team because of contract-related rumors that owner Jerry Jones has pushed back on. Instead of quieting things down, the ankle issue has only added another layer of uncertainty around a player the Cowboys would rather have available than discussing from the sideline.
Porter acknowledged the injury is serious and said he wants to get back on the field as soon as he can, but the timing is not ideal with San Francisco next on the schedule. He was held out of practice Wednesday, which leaves his status for the upcoming game in doubt and forces the Cowboys to keep looking for answers in a secondary that has already had enough problems. [Read more 🡒]
